Burpee Improved Bush

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Warm, creamy pods give way to Burpee Improved Bush Lima Beans with a rich, buttery flavor and a tender, velvety bite.

This compact, bush habit makes the plants easy to manage, producing dependable yields of smooth, ivory-to-light-green seeds that feel luxurious in the bowl. Grow them for hearty, spoonable favorites—ideal for roasting, fresh shelling, and velvety sauces, with the same satisfying comfort whether served straight from the garden or preserved for later.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Burpee Improved Bush

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	85
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

These bush limas are built for the spoon: their starchy interior turns creamy without going grainy, so you can treat them like a velouté’s cousin—gentle heat, minimal fuss, finish with butter and lemon. The smooth, ivory-to-light-green seeds stay tender enough for roasting edges or puréeing into a luxe coating.

Best Uses

dry-to-cream style simmered limas that you finish with butter and a splash of starchy cooking water
roasted limas tossed with olive oil and salt until edges go nutty
fresh-shell or thawed limas in a thickened purée for spooning over toast or polenta
broad-bean replacement in succotash-style bowls with smoky fat and acid

Flavor Profile

buttery, warm-leaning creaminess tender, velvety bite when cooked through mildly sweet, starchy bean richness smooth, spoonable texture once shelled

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil butter smoked pork lemon parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prevent and treat early blight on Burpee Improved Bush tomatoes?

Early blight shows up as dark, target-like spots on older leaves first, often spreading upward and causing leaf drop. Remove and discard infected leaves immediately, keep plants well-spaced for airflow, and avoid wetting foliage when you water. If it keeps progressing, spray a labeled tomato fungicide that targets early blight and reapply according to the label interval (especially after rainy weather).

How often should I water Burpee Improved Bush tomatoes during the main growing phase?

During active growth and fruit set, water deeply so the top 1–2 inches of soil dries slightly between waterings, usually about 1–2 times per week depending on heat and container vs. in-ground conditions. Keep moisture even—irregular watering leads to cracking and blossom-end rot risk. A simple check is to feel soil at the 2-inch level; if it’s still cool and moist, wait, and if it’s dry, water at the base until the root zone is soaked.

When is Burpee Improved Bush ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits reach full size and are fully colored (deep red for typical ripe fruit) and come off with a gentle twist with the stem still intact. For best flavor, pick at peak ripeness rather than waiting for softening or overly wrinkled skin. In general, expect first harvest around 85 days from transplanting, with ongoing picking as more fruits ripen.